But within two hours after Faustus called again to his spirit, who came in his old manner like a friar. Then Faustus said unto him, "I am not able to resist or bridle my fancy; I must and will have a wife, and I pray thee give thy consent to it." Suddenly upon these words came such a whirlwind about the place that Faustus thought the whole house would have come down; all the doors of the house flew off the hooks. After all this his house was full of smoke, and the floor covered with ashes; which, when Dr. Faustus perceived, he would have gone upstairs, and flying up he was taken and thrown down into the hall, that he was not able to stir hand nor foot; then round about him ran a monstrous circle of fire, never standing still, that Faustus cried as he lay, and thought there to have been burned. Then cried he out to his spirit Mephistophiles for help, promising him he would live, for all this, as he had vowed by his handwriting. Hereupon appeared unto him an ugly devil, so dreadful and monstrous to behold, that Faustus durst not look on him. The devil said, "What wouldst thou have, Faustus? How likest thou thy wedding? What mind art thou in now?" Faustus answered, he had forgot his promise, desiring of him pardon, and he would talk no more of such things. "Thou art best so to do;" and so vanished from him.
After appeared unto him his friar Mephistophiles, with a bell in his hand, and spake to Faustus: "It is no jesting with us; hold thou that which thou hast vowed, and we will perform that which we have promised; and more than that, thou shalt have thy heart's desire of what woman soever thou wilt, be she alive or dead, and so long as thou wilt thou shalt keep her by thee." These words pleased Faustus wonderful well, and repented himself that he was so foolish to wish himself married, that might have any woman in the whole city brought him at his command, the which he practised and persevered in a long time.
CHAPTER X.
Questions put forth by Dr. Faustus unto his Spirit Mephistophiles.
Dr. Faustus living in all manner of pleasure that his heart could desire, continuing of his amorous drifts, his delicate fare, and costly apparel, called on a time his Mephistophiles to him, who being come, brought him a book in his hand of all manner of devilish and enchanting arts, the which he gave Faustus, saying, "Hold, my Faustus; work now thy heart's desire." The copy of this enchanting book was afterwards found by his servant Christopher Wagner. "Well," quoth Faustus to his spirit, "I have called thee to know what thou canst do if I have need of thy help."
Then answered Mephistophiles, and said, "My lord Faustus, I am a flying spirit, yea, so swift as thought can think, to do whatsoever."
Here Faustus said, "But how came lord and master Lucifer to have so great a fall from heaven?"
Mephistophiles answered: "My lord Lucifer was a fair angel, created of God as immortal, and being placed in the Seraphims, which are above the Cherubims, he would have presumed upon the Throne of God, with intent to thrust God out of his seat; upon this presumption the Lord cast him down headlong, and where before he was an angel of light, now dwells in darkness, not able to come near his first place, without God send for him to appear before him; as Raphael, unto the lower degree of angels, that have their conversation with men, he may come, but not unto the second degree of the heavens, that is kept by the archangels, namely, Michael and Gabriel, for these are called Angels of God's wonders; these are far inferior places to that from whence my lord and master Lucifer fell; and thus far, Faustus, because thou art one of the beloved children of the lord Lucifer, following thy mind in manner as he did his, I have shortly resolved thy request, and more I will do for thee at thy pleasure."
"I thank thee, Mephistophiles," quoth Faustus, "come, let us now go to rest, for it is night;" upon this they left their communication.